behind them that Vi clapped a hand to her mouth to keep from

from breaking loose and running away. Probably

tly up behind them and had overheard the last, at any rate, of what

she asked in a voice that she hardly rec

ly, as though to himself: "Hugo

for she had been wondering what t

he said eagerly. "

ark woods, but now he stopped and looked back and

ply, then just as quickly tur

leader, stumbling on over rocks and roots that sometimes bruised their ankles painfully. "I suppose there are som

sure the man who called himself Hugo Billings was not taking them toward Three Towers Hal

aloud with relief. For they recognized the path and knew that the open ro

them. Once more the girls' hearts misgave them. Was h

n the m

n in imagination the tired slump of his shoulders, the wild, haunted look in his eyes. "I don't like the road. But yo

m, calling to him to stop. Yet when he did stop and turned to look at her she had not the slightes

a swift little feeling of pity for this man who seemed so lo

, his voice so harsh and threatening that B

almost the first thing that came in

enough to make me sad. But help!" he added fi

rd he turned and strod

way, as if they must have dreamed their adventure, it had all been so strang

uld have discussed it. "Let's wait till we get in our dor

, and they hurried along in silence till they saw, with hearts full of than

see the

do

we haven't muc

a quarter o

mile after such a tramp as w

h an experienc

ly have some s

mething to

dry clot

hut and what

that led to the handsomest door in the world, or at least so they thought it at

a hut and a funny man whe

Laura, pausing with her hand on the door knob. "The

ame tremendously excited about it. At first they were all for making up an expedition and going

ould not want a lot of curious girls spying about his quarters, and, being sorry for him and grateful

iss Walters, the much-beloved head of Three Towers Hall, said th

hey were favorites of the cook they were given an extra share of everything an

illie between mouthfuls of pork chop. "Think of coming home wi

llie, her eyes dancing as she helped herse

rs Hall when Billie and her chums had first arrived. Their tartness and strictness an

lly dubbed by the girls the twin "Dill Pickles," had things in their own hands and proceeded to make the life of the girls unbearable

Molata until Miss Walters should get back. Miss Walters, coming home unexpectedly, had met the girls in town, accompanied the

o new teachers in their place who were as different from the Dill Pickles as night is from day. All the girl

referred when she said, "Thank go

hey changed their clothes, still damp from their adventure, for comfortable, warm night gowns, and he

rise that for once they were not sorry. What with the adventure itself and the number of

e to go into her dormitory, which was across the hal

decidedly, as she dipped her face into a bowl

ms, and one of the most popular girls in Three T

said, "and then you girls go and rake up a